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“The Arabic term for Gospel, Injil, plays off the original Greek euangelos (“bringing good newsâ€�), but with a twist on the Semitic root N-J-L, meaning “opening eyes wide.â€� The name reflected Jesusâ€� mission to deliver his people from the bondage of blindly following corrupt clerics by reawakening individual powers of perception.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“While deeply admiring and affirming past prophets, the Qur’an casts a critical eye on human misapplication of their revelations. “Our prophetic guides came to them with clarifying signs, yet many among them soon lapsed, spreading disorder in the landâ€� (5:32). The perpetual dynamic of monotheistic values revived by prophets only to be subsequently squandered by humans is what concerns the Qur’an. It diagnoses a range of repeated failures, including: losing a close relationship with the Divine and reverting to idolatry; debating minutiae as an excuse to avoid bold action; imposing dogma not found in scripture and turning petty disputes over dogma into deadly violence; and elites selfishly abusing their leadership positions to mislead and manipulate.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Echoing the inspiration and pedagogic power of Jesusâ€� parables, the Qur’an abounds with simple allegories to convey complex ideas.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an does not hesitate to retell biblical incidents with modifications—or to introduce entirely new vignettes around iconic biblical figures. As a book purposely not constructed around a formal narrative, the Qur’an leverages these allusions primarily to emphasize a moral value rather than re- veal an origin story. Every time the Qur’an presents a story, it always follows with terse analyses synthesizing key takeaways.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“In one sense, the Qur’an regards the Torah and the Gospel as older siblingsâ€� and looks on with dismay at the family feud tearing apart Abrahamic cohesion. In another sense, the Qur’an exists as an orphan. It presents the first Abrahamic scripture in Arabic, delivered by an Arabian prophet. Claiming a lineage back to the Torah yet revealed in a thoroughly pagan society, the Qur’an enjoys an insider-outsider status—one that empowers it to look lovingly yet critically at its ancestry. This complex inheritance means the Qur’an is aware of its roots yet free to develop its own identity without being confined by parental oversight.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Rather than retreat inward, the evangelical followers of Jesus focused out- ward, marketing their message to the pagan masses. The appeal of their pitch lay in its simplicity: anyone could become one of God’s chosen people by joining the Brotherhood in Jesus Christ. Harnessing monotheistic energy for mass liberation, these devout followers invited people of all backgrounds to join a Catholic (from the Greek katholikos—“universalâ€�) movement.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an calls Jesus Al-Masih, the Messiah—literally, “the anointed oneâ€� or “the one who wipes away injustice.â€� Rather than adopting the Jewish framing of the messiah as a political redeemer, the Qur’anic understanding of the messiah is a reformer anointed by God to revive the theory of Abraham and the structure of Moses. Or, in a related sense, as a great clarifier who wipes away the filmy haze obscuring clear understanding.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Like many of the prophets who came before him, Jesus attracted both an intense following and harsh opposition. In the span of just three years of preaching, he reignited the age-old Jewish spirit of rebellion against oppression. Both the priestly elites and the Romans regarded him as a threatening agitator—this even though Jesus often spoke in parables as a way to deliver his bold critique in a less directly provocative manner.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an is a book with enormous power. When not understood properly, it can yield perilous results—similar to how powerful natural elements like hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen are vital components of air, soil, and water, yet can also be manipulated to manufacture explosives.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’anic experience went far beyond reading, chanting, or memorizing. The Qur’an was not merely ink on parchment, sounds emerging from someone’s throat, or ears listening to recitation. Rather it was the precious moment when inspired audiences found the courage to blossom out of stagnation, opening once-closed petals to reveal dormant potential ready to be unlocked.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Brilliant Muslim scholars applied Qur’anic insights to spark the medieval Islamic Golden Age filled with a mind-boggling outpouring of creativity in science, math, medicine, fashion, philosophy, economics, mental health therapy, architecture, art, and beyond.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Algebra did not simply ease how numbers were depicted or calculated, but fundamentally revolutionized how to operate efficiently.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“As the Qur’an itself had quoted Moses to declare (and as Muhammad had cited in his final letter to the assassin Musailimah): “The earth belongs to the Loving Divine, who allots it to whomever He wills; yet the most lasting legacy will be the enduring impact of those who have action-based hope.â€� Tellingly, when Al-Mansur inaugurated his new capital, the cornerstone of Baghdad featured that very verse etched for all to see.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“In 762, to symbolize and propel the new order, Al-Mansur decided to build the grand new capital of Baghdad as a massive round city. The caliph assembled an elite team of the empire’s top engineers, architects, and visionaries—notably including Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews, such as Mashallah Ibnul-Athari.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“To help inspire refined analysis of the Qur’an’s content, the second field was called Tafsir—literally, “separating strands of raw flax and weaving them into a garment.â€� Tafsir sought to become an oral tradition for preserving knowledge about how to understand and apply the Qur’an. The field covered the meaning of words (including their Semitic root concepts and the implication of grammatical structures); their context (when it was said, to whom, and why); and their application (initial purpose, lessons for other situations, and distilled wisdom). The field aimed to capture commentary by Muhammad, the historical insights of his companions, and knowledge of preexisting Abrahamic traditions.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Daring to publicly express ideas independent from the dominant elite narrative indeed had serious consequences. Those who did faced isolationâ€� and worse—if they failed to heed repeated warnings to remain silent.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“As it devises its own system, the Qur’an takes pains to explain its reasoning. For example, the admonition against indulging in alcohol and gambling is justified by the “immense social harmâ€� both can cause, especially the ripple effect of damage to others via drunken violence and crippling debt (addicts in
Arabia often sold their own children into slavery to repay debts).”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“When the Qur’an critically evaluates the individual behavior of certain Jews, Christians, and pagans, it does so because these individuals serve as models for both what to do and not to do. Compared to the standards of harsh prophetic chastisement found in the revelations of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the Qur’an is a gentle critic—despite attempts by some translators to heighten the tension.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“While today the Qur’an is viewed in retrospect as the grand scripture of powerful and triumphant empires, virtually its entire unfolding was defined by corresponding experiences of persecution, banishment, slander, and other intense suffering endured by its followers. In many ways, the Qur’an is the product of pain and sorrow.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“A formidable life-giving force that can be misused for destruction, the Qur’an needs to be handled with care. Given the stakes, this book aims to translate the Qur’an’s ideas in meaningful ways for popular audiences—mirroring the Qur’an’s own effort to convey a mindset of blossoming to people of all backgrounds.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“In essence, the algebra mindset transformed broken situations into dynamic opportunities for lasting impact. And it did so with elegant equations, precise numerals, and dynamic efficiency. The world would never be the same.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The spiritual world the Qur’an encountered was thus monotheism ascendant but in chaotic crisis. Ironically, claimants to the mantle of Abraham, whose very name means “compassionate patriarch,â€� were splintered by violent divides. A rich and ancient ancestry lay obscured amidst the dust and debris.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an works very hard to maintain a balance between uplifting inspirational rhetoric and the realistic awareness that the world can be a very dangerous place. As a responsible guardian, the Qur’an recognizes it cannot inspire without also warning. It sees potential for greatness in all people, while also cautiously acknowledging that human beings can abuse others. In the end, the Qur’an reminds its audience that there is only one fully trustworthy guide: the Divine.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“To engage Jews excluded by the harsh and judgmental elite, Jesus insisted on preaching out in nature to mass audiences. To renew appreciation for a loving and compassionate Divine, Jesus sat alongside the poor and the outcast, most notably lepers.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The words of the Qur’an are omnipresent—yet its spirit lies dormant.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The critics…have it backward: The Qur’an is not the source of the Muslim world’s problems, but its untapped solution.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The words of the Qur’an are omnipresent—yet its spirit lies dormant,”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an was not a book per se or any other kind of physical object, but rather an unfolding experience—its own unique category of living being.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Even as flawed human beings inevitably corrupt and obscure the natural monotheistic order, all hope is not lost. Just as inevitably, prophets emerge to issue bold calls to restore a nurturing relationship with the Divine. As the Qur’an explains, “Humanity was of one faith, then they transgressed against each other, so the Loving Divine sends the prophets as guidesâ€� (2:213). The English term “prophetâ€� suggests someone foretelling the future, yet Semitic prophets are more focused on recovering a precious heritage in order to chart a better future. The Nabi, the Semitic term for prophet, describes an unlikely source of water bubbling up in an unexpected location, like a desert spring. The Nabi is rarely a prominent elite, but rather an unlikely leader who selflessly connects with divine truth that inexorably bubbles up inside.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“By age twelve I had memorized all the Qur’an’s words, yet understood few of them—a bit like repeatedly watching a foreign film without any subtitles, knowing the scenes in detail without comprehending the dialogue.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy